D/A converter upgrade

Unknown soldier · 12th August 2007, 04:56 PM

My good old Lucid DA9624 just busted - the toggle switch to select the digital input broke. They say it's anywhere from $80 to $300 to fix it. It's about six years old, so I'd consider $100 as the top amount to pay, otherwise it's not worth it.

But, is this converter still viable when compared to the Lavry DA10, Benchmark, DAC1, or even the Dangerous Dbox? I'm aware of the features of each and the extra goodies on the dbox - and I do need a monitor controller as well (considering the SPL 2381 too).

So, worth it to fix the lucid or just bite the bullet and upgrade? Financially I can do it...

Recording David · 12th August 2007, 05:04 PM

This is gearslutz, remember. Buy new gear!!

Seriously, old digital gear will only go down in value so IMO pumping money into it when it starts to fail is a waste of cash. The other converters you mention will outclass it, especially the Lavry.

As you have funds available, go for it!

Unknown soldier · 12th August 2007, 05:27 PM

Sure, your answer for everything is to spend more money...

But you are ultimately right - so I figure I can do one of two things, since I do need a monitor controller as well -

Get the SPL 2381 (used $500-600) and either a DAC1 or DA10 (used $700 or so)
Or a dangerous D box new for $1400.

I've heard is that the SPL has QC issues, and I really don't want that. It does have all the features I need and since I'm ITB it would work perfectly.

The Dbox has a good D/A (comparable to the aforementioned converters as I've heard) and I could get into summing, although I wonder if only eight channels of summing would warrant enough improvement.

So what the hell do I do?

Recording David · 12th August 2007, 05:51 PM

In your position I would go for the Lavry plus a separate monitor controller. You didn't mention Mytek in your original post - I use their DA96 which is very good, and this has since been superseded by the 192 series. Just another option to consider...

Do you know Coleman Audio? They make very high quality monitor controllers that are in the ballpark price you mention.

Coleman Audio M3PH mkII | Sweetwater.com

I would rather get two great pieces rather than try to find an all in one box to do both (and with an all in one box there is more that can go wrong in it). I think in terms of absolute quality this would be the way to go if I were in your position.

Unknown soldier · 12th August 2007, 06:17 PM

good info - the one thing about the coleman is that you can only monitor one source at a time - I need to monitor the recording input through hardware to avoid latency, midi keyboards, and the D/A mix all at once. The SPL can do this, as can the Dbox, although not as elegantly.

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12th August 2007, 04:56 PM	#1
Unknown soldier Gear addict Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: solar system Posts: 436	D/A converter upgrade My good old Lucid DA9624 just busted - the toggle switch to select the digital input broke. They say it's anywhere from $80 to $300 to fix it. It's about six years old, so I'd consider $100 as the top amount to pay, otherwise it's not worth it. But, is this converter still viable when compared to the Lavry DA10, Benchmark, DAC1, or even the Dangerous Dbox? I'm aware of the features of each and the extra goodies on the dbox - and I do need a monitor controller as well (considering the SPL 2381 too). So, worth it to fix the lucid or just bite the bullet and upgrade? Financially I can do it...

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12th August 2007, 05:04 PM	#2
Recording David Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: UK Posts: 652	This is gearslutz, remember. Buy new gear!! Seriously, old digital gear will only go down in value so IMO pumping money into it when it starts to fail is a waste of cash. The other converters you mention will outclass it, especially the Lavry. As you have funds available, go for it!

12th August 2007, 05:27 PM	#3
Unknown soldier Gear addict Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: solar system Posts: 436	Sure, your answer for everything is to spend more money... But you are ultimately right - so I figure I can do one of two things, since I do need a monitor controller as well - Get the SPL 2381 (used $500-600) and either a DAC1 or DA10 (used $700 or so) Or a dangerous D box new for $1400. I've heard is that the SPL has QC issues, and I really don't want that. It does have all the features I need and since I'm ITB it would work perfectly. The Dbox has a good D/A (comparable to the aforementioned converters as I've heard) and I could get into summing, although I wonder if only eight channels of summing would warrant enough improvement. So what the hell do I do?

12th August 2007, 05:51 PM	#4
Recording David Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: UK Posts: 652	In your position I would go for the Lavry plus a separate monitor controller. You didn't mention Mytek in your original post - I use their DA96 which is very good, and this has since been superseded by the 192 series. Just another option to consider... Do you know Coleman Audio? They make very high quality monitor controllers that are in the ballpark price you mention. Coleman Audio M3PH mkII \| Sweetwater.com I would rather get two great pieces rather than try to find an all in one box to do both (and with an all in one box there is more that can go wrong in it). I think in terms of absolute quality this would be the way to go if I were in your position.

12th August 2007, 06:17 PM	#5
Unknown soldier Gear addict Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: solar system Posts: 436	good info - the one thing about the coleman is that you can only monitor one source at a time - I need to monitor the recording input through hardware to avoid latency, midi keyboards, and the D/A mix all at once. The SPL can do this, as can the Dbox, although not as elegantly.